Chapter 559
Chapter 559
LeTi’s recording studio.
“We’ll go with what you said, Jae-hyun.”
“Yes.”
Cheong-ryeo was in the middle of resuming the recording for their new song, which had been interrupted previously due to a member’s sudden flight.
Because of the delay, the schedule had become incredibly dense. However, as long as there were no issues with the quality, it didn't matter to him.
It was a life he intended to discard and start over anyway, but out of habit, he continued to pick out flaws and refine the best path forward.
‘Hmm.’
As always, the layers of calculation built within his quiet mind were rock-solid.
Cheong-ryeo gave the lyric sheet a soft tap.
It was then.
[Let me ask you one thing.]
A sentence broke through the silence.
Cheong-ryeo narrowed his eyes at the Help Menu that had popped up as if in a hurry.
The audio was being mixed, so he could have a conversation, but…
‘How rude.’
In a situation like this, he should have made it seek permission first.
He considered it for a moment but decided to let it slide for now.
“What question?”
The moment his implicit consent was given, sentences came pouring out.
Questions.
[That story about Jung Woo-dan you mentioned last time—the one where you confessed everything right before a restart.]
[Do you remember exactly what the situation was back then?]
He remembered.
He kept the people he had used as members of VTIC neatly categorized in his mind like a spreadsheet. This included the reasons he used them and the reasons he stopped using them.
And the ‘Jung Woo-dan story’ the Help Menu was referring to fell into the latter category. In other words, it was one of the memories he had intentionally recorded.
However.
‘I have no reason to tell you.’
Cheong-ryeo stared at the Help Menu with a short, cold gaze.
But for some reason, he soon opened his mouth.
“I believe I already told you. It was right before a restart.”
He began to explain the situation at the time in a flat tone.
The 21st VTIC.
Due to a butterfly effect during the production of a new album, the agency’s financial manager changed, and they suffered greatly due to tax issues.
As a result, VTIC’s second-half tour was canceled. And Cheong-ryeo realized it.
‘Is this the end?’
The time had come to restart again.
Perhaps he had felt a bit of resentment or annoyance. It was during his early period when there were few instances where the group was still going strong but failed due to ridiculous timing.
So, he had made a decision on a somewhat cold impulse.
‘Should I tell him?’
About his circumstances.
He had nothing to lose by saying it now.
So, he chose a member who had decent crisis management skills, unique ideas, and no ethical issues.
Ju-dan.
The guy, who had listened to the explanation and even asked for proof before examining it thoroughly, surprisingly nodded his head immediately.
—I see. Indeed… I understand.
And then he asked.
—Then, is there anything you need my help with…?
—Your help? Hmm. I don’t need your help right now.
—…Pardon?
—This group is a failure the moment we failed to fill the audience numbers to the baseline we were supposed to meet. It’s over. No matter who helps, I have to restart. Haha…
—……Then why are you telling me this… hidden truth?
—To see if you’d believe it.
Because Ju-dan was included in the list of members to be recruited again after the restart.
This was a sort of trial run. To see if this process would work well even after a restart.
And until this point, Cheong-ryeo judged this attempt to be a success.
—It’s a relief. That you believe me.
—……Yes.
The conversation that day ended there.
Cheong-ryeo finished his recollection.
Then he gave a thin smile.
“But Jung Woo-dan disappeared from the dorm the next day. He only left a note at the company saying, ‘I’m not feeling well and want to take a break from activities.’”
And after his head cooled down, he realized he had acted in a way that didn't make sense from a cost-benefit perspective.
“Running away from home. If he had reported to the company that the leader was suffering from mental illness instead, I wouldn't have lowered his evaluation as much.”
[…….]
No, I think he believed you and was just fucking terrified.
Park Moon-dae understood instinctively.
To anyone’s eyes, Cheong-ryeo must have looked insane, and Ju-dan must have been as terrified as a dog facing a tiger.
Cheong-ryeo continued his explanation in the same monotonous tone.
“Having used up all my spare time, I restarted the next day. Until then, Jung Woo-dan had not returned to the dorm from his hiding place.”
‘…….’
Park Moon-dae rubbed the back of his neck.
Then he noticed the implication in that sentence.
He had specifically mentioned a ‘hiding place.’
[Did you know where that guy was?]
Cheong-ryeo answered plainly.
“Near the company.”
Come to think of it…
“It was a meeting room for rent.”
And Cheong-ryeo realized it.
The location of the VTIC member who ran away this time was also a seminar room.
In other words.
“It wasn't that he had a unique idea; it was just a coincidence that it was similar to his own situation?”
[…….]
“Hmm. As expected.”
Cheong-ryeo concluded that Jung Woo-dan’s evaluation wasn't worth reconsidering.
And just as he was about to return to recording…
[Wait a minute.]
The Help Menu pressed against the air.
“…….”
Park Moon-dae felt a sense of dissonance.
‘Something’s strange.’
A seminar room.
—It’s not a place people usually go to rest or play, so it’s hard for the company to predict, and it’s pleasant because it’s not crowded. It’s a perfect space for an escape.
Ju-dan had definitely explained it that way.
‘That means it’s a space used for escape in daily life.’
In other words, a place where an introverted person would hide alone for mental stability when they were sick of being around people during practice.
That was where Ju-dan had gone.
It wasn't a place to go into hiding like someone fleeing a serial killer.
‘…Perhaps.’
Park Moon-dae was silent for a moment before typing.
[I think that guy believed you.]
“Hmm?”
[Jung Woo-dan believed me immediately even when I said I came from the future. He’s the one who helped me.]
Thanks to him, I didn't starve to death and survived.
“…….”
Park Moon-dae ignored the look of absurdity that flickered in Cheong-ryeo’s eyes.
Instead, he kindly finished the sentence.
[Realistically, if he believed a total stranger, isn't the probability even higher that he believed his fellow member? You said you even showed him proof.]
“I don’t know if you want to have a debate over an obvious phenomenon… but did you forget the part about him going missing?”
[Yeah, about that. I actually asked Jung Woo-dan himself after hearing what you said.]
Then Park Moon-dae appropriately refined and delivered the idea he had gained from Ju-dan through the psychological test.
The idea was that since everything would be undone once the restart happened no matter what the other member did, he probably fled thinking he could do whatever he wanted since the game was already lost anyway.
[In fact, he went into hiding because he believed you.]
“Hmm.”
Cheong-ryeo nodded readily.
“That is… certainly a decent idea.”
[…….]
“It’s a bit of an individualistic way of thinking for group activities, but as a flaw, it’s acceptable…”
It was just before Cheong-ryeo could put a hold on Ju-dan’s evaluation.
[However.]
The Help Menu’s main point started from here.
[I think that’s strange too.]
“…….”
Cheong-ryeo narrowed his eyes. Park Moon-dae sensed that he was starting to feel like this was a waste of time.
He had to choose his words carefully from now on.
“What part.”
[The location.]
[If that guy really felt his life was in danger and tried to run away, he would have fled overseas already. He’s the type who would have at least run to the countryside.]
He wouldn't have just been hanging out in a seminar room; he would have fled with every ounce of strength he had.
He was the guy who had shouted that he would quit the moment he realized things were going weird in the system’s virtual world. If it were a crisis of survival, there was no way he would have stayed in a facility near the company for two days.
‘He would have thought, “If it’s a supernatural person who can return to the past, they’ll be able to find a location like this.”’
[Looking at it that way, a seminar room near the company is far too complacent.]
Furthermore.
[The answer I brought you is just what a trainee guy said during a psychological test. He’s not your member who had been in VTIC for years.]
[I’m not saying they’re different people, but the conditions and environment are different.]
The Ju-dan here.
The trainee Jung Woo-dan he had talked to didn't know Cheong-ryeo well.
He was a young kid who hadn't even debuted as an idol or lived with the members.
So, the answer he gave would be far from the actual feelings of the Ju-dan who was actually a member of VTIC.
‘And considering this guy is secretly the type to have some affection…’
The fact that he kept an eye on things from a nearby place meant…
—Ju-dan believed Cheong-ryeo’s words and ran away.
In addition to this:
[Once his mind was settled that you weren't dangerous, he probably would have come back.]
It meant Ju-dan also had the intention of returning soon.
I looked at Cheong-ryeo’s calm face.
On the outside, he looked like the quintessential K-pop artist focusing on recording in the studio, but I noticed a crack forming in his surface thoughts.
It was probably because of the new interpretation.
—Ju-dan believed Cheong-ryeo’s words and wanted to interpret Cheong-ryeo’s intentions in a positive light.
[This is also a sign that he thought there was a high probability you wouldn't harm his safety.]
Cheong-ryeo didn't even move an eyelid.
[It means you were a decent enough leader at the time.]
From Jung Woo-dan’s perspective, he had decided that even if he had to take some risks, he wanted to clear his head nearby so he could return at any time.
“…….”
I wasn't saying this just to make him feel good.
[Logically connected, this is the answer with the highest probability.]
And.
[First of all, isn't it certain that the idea of him deserting because he couldn't trust you actually has the lowest probability?]
Cheong-ryeo’s finger moved slightly.
I finished the sentence without hesitation.
[The probability that your attempt in choosing Jung Woo-dan was a success is much higher.]
[Don't treat it as a complete failure just because of that one instance.]
“…….”
Cheong-ryeo looked away from the lyric sheet.
Then he slowly expressed his thoughts.
“…I don’t believe I ever said I only told my circumstances to a group member once.”
‘…….’
What?
“I tried it a few more times with other targets after that, but the expected value was miserably low, so I discarded the idea.”
However, Cheong-ryeo’s expression wasn't cold.
Instead of a picture-perfect smile, a natural, expressionless face had settled on him.
“But the first attempt failing has a big impact on the statistics.”
‘…!’
“Because it starts with a complete failure.”
And that was what had just been overturned.
[So, how does it feel to know that your judgment might have been right?]
Cheong-ryeo didn't answer for a moment.
But he soon opened his mouth.
“It’s not bad.”
There you go.
I gave a wide smirk.
Cheong-ryeo set down the lyric sheet a bit more gently than before.
I noticed that a slightly comfortable emotion had been activated in his surface thoughts.
Well, it wasn't bad.
I tapped the keys briskly.
[Then are you going to use Jung Woo-dan as a member now?]
“Should I put him on the candidate list?”
‘…!’
That’s it.
……No. Why the hell am I feeling proud? He’s a guy who’s doing just fine in reality, buying buildings and doing well in VTIC anyway.
‘What’s with this over-immersion?’
I should be feeling great if a rival group fails, but seeing T-Holic get destroyed here made me empathize in a strange direction.
It was while I was smacking my lips.
“In that sense.”
Hmm?
“It seems you’re in contact with Jung Woo-dan.”
Cheong-ryeo said with a smile.
“Should I conduct an interview?”
[…??]
It was something I never imagined.
Three hours later, at the officetel.
“I didn't expect to meet you in this capacity. I’m Jung Woo-dan. Senior.”
“Yes. Nice to meet you.”
The guy who gave me the officetel and the guy who helped me move were sitting around the table.
Listing only the facts made it feel heartwarming, but in reality, it wasn't a very realistic sight.
Cheong-ryeo, who just finished recording, taking the time to come here?
‘I didn't think this bastard, who would usually ignore such a suggestion as a waste of time, would request it himself.’
Furthermore, Cheong-ryeo and Ju-dan were having a conversation in a fairly decent atmosphere.
The fact that Cheong-ryeo was responding to all of Ju-dan’s nonsense and questions with a smile without being shaken was a big part of it.
“I see! Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Moreover, surprisingly, he wasn't just brushing off Ju-dan’s questions but was answering them quite truthfully.
He glossed over some parts, but at the very least, he revealed the part about him returning to the past and restarting without much concealment.
‘Hmm.’
I saw Ju-dan, who had finally managed to draw out the story that ‘next time you might debut in VTIC,’ looking a bit flustered.
“I see…. It’s an honor from my perspective, but haven't you put the restart on hold? I heard Gun-woo hyung played a big role as a helper.”
He’s asking this so bluntly?
“Well. Hmm, if we win the Grand Prize, I don’t necessarily have to restart. Haha.”
And you’re answering this so honestly?
‘Is the album recording going that well?’
I looked back with a slightly dazed face.
Cheong-ryeo continued with a smile.
“But I’m still going to restart.”
“…….”
What?
“Once you succeed, it’s the end. This reality becomes fixed.”
“…Pardon?”
“But I’m not very fond of the current members.”
And Cheong-ryeo kindly explained to Ju-dan.
“If we keep going like this, even if we win the Grand Prize, this group’s lifespan will end within a few years.”
“That……”
“It worked out well. Since I’ll be using you, Woo-dan.”
Cheong-ryeo turned his head.
“And you too.”
Toward me.
“…….”
“You have a good sense for working in the entertainment industry, and hmm, looking at the scout video, you’re a good singer. We were lacking in the vocal pool, so it worked out well.”
What the hell are you talking about?
“I… if you restart…”
“Right. You said you might not be able to use that body if I restart.”
Cheong-ryeo responded calmly.
“It doesn't matter. You can just stay as the Help Menu.”
Because.
“There’s one more of you here.”
“…….”
I realized what he was saying.
Ryu Gun-woo!
The past me, who was currently attending university.
“His grades are good. He’s diligent… hmm. His financial situation isn't great, so it’ll be easy to persuade him if I offer to support his basic needs.”
“…….”
“It’ll be fully possible if I target the time when you just entered university.”
There was conviction in the tone of the guy speaking calmly.
“When did you investigate this?”
He should know that his vision can be shared whenever I just connect as the Help Menu.
“When do you think?”
Cheong-ryeo smiled softly.
“It was while Ryu Moon was busy fulfilling his actor schedule.”
“…!”
“You worked hard searching for information. That’s why it must have been harder for you to connect as the Help Menu.”
Son of a bitch.